Why is it that when I relax my abdominal muscles, my waistline increases, but when I tighten them, I'm thin?

Question

I am a Asian male in my early 20's. I do plenty of cardio exercise (45min jogging), as well as sit ups (80), push ups (30) and stretching, mostly on a daily basis. When relaxed, my waistline is about 31 inches (and very round). I suspect that it is my intestines and internal organs bulging out. But when I tighten my abdominal muscles, my waistline is around 28 inches, and I can feel the muscles.

How can I get my waistline to be thin when relaxed? Thank you.

Answer 1

your pelvis sounds like it is rocked forward by tight psoas muscles. Look in a mirror and notice if when you tighten the muscles if the pelvic"bowl" seems to rock back, if this is the case then the muscles are merely tipping the bowl back and(thus the contents also, like your intestines!) so no amount of ab workouts will help, though yoga with a focus on the psoas muscles ans releasing them will remedy, takes a while though.

Answer 2

Sit-ups strengthen and build the most externally visible abdominal muscles, the rectus abdominis, whose function is to move your torso towards your legs and vice versa and play an important role in most athletic activities and sports. But its the transverse abdominal muscles which are underneath your rectus abdominis which hold your organs and intestines in and keep your waist flat.

Because you have a small waist, 31 inches, this problem is probably lack of tension and strength of the transverse muscles.
Try pilates which aims to improve the underlying muscles such as the transverse abdominals rather than the visible abs. Pilates also aims to improve your posture, which may help.

Answer 3

Check out your local Pilates workout center. Your transverse abdominal muscles are not engaging. And, the more you work on your abs doing regular situps, the poofier your stomach will be when you are relaxed. Pilates will strengthen your core, so will any exercise that requires ballance. Do those and you should see a quick change.

Answer 4

the significant to strengthening abdominals is to bear in techniques which you employ them for notably much each circulate you're making. The Bridge exercising from yoga could artwork. additionally evaluate making an investment in a stability ball and do chest press routines, crunches, biceps curls, triceps routines, back routines; like rows. additionally bear in techniques once you prepare for stability you're training your abs. Stand on one leg and do bicep curls or shoulder presses. in case you're able to do the plank exercising great. in case you won't have the ability to do the plank I created an exercising referred to as plank pulses the place you carry the plank for 2 or 3 seconds then decrease. this additionally will help you advance your abs. You going to must be innovative and concentration on flexibility. sturdy luck. hyperlinks to routines below

Answer 5

you're NOT really thin then, it's just an "illusion", a "trick" when you suck everything in. got not much to do with the abs, if you really have a bulge. burn more of the fat until you're lean as a stick in that area, then your abs would look great!

Answer 6

Keep exercising so that your abs become accustomed to being contracted and it should be fine.

Answer 7

go answer MY question